Door latch



B. A. QUINN DOOR LATCH Filed May 16, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Ai borney B-A. QUINN DOOR LATCH July 22, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 16, 1946Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2, 04,344 noon LATCHBert A. Quinn, St. Paul, Minn.

. Application May 16, 1946, Serial No. 670,094

My invention relates to an improvement in door latch wherein it isdesired to provide a simple and effective construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a door latch whichmay be constructed of an extremely small number of parts and whichwillbe efiective to serve its intended purpose.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a door latchconstruction whichmay be constructed of a small number of parts whichmay for the most part be stamped out on a punch press or the like. As aresult the parts employed may be manufactured atextremely low cost and,

in considerable volume in a short period of time.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a door latchwhich may be easily secured in place upon a door. In attaching the latchto the door, it is only necessary to'cut a notch in one edge of thedoor, secure a-base plate in the notch, and to attach the latch handleportion to overlie the base. plate. Thus the latch may be secured inplacein an extremely short period of time.

It is a feature of the present invention to proe vide a door latchconstruction which requires no circular pivot connecting the handleelements to the door. The handle element is mounted upon the basebracket for swinging movement relative thereto in such a manner that thebase plate and handle require no circular pivot connecting the same. Asa result my door latch requires no assembly and may be furnished inunassembled form for assembly upon attachment.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of ahandle element which is modernistic in appearance and. attractive indesign. When in place upon a door my latch adds to, rather than detractsfrom the appearance of the door.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my latch in position upon a door. l

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the door, the latch, and the keepershowing the relative positions thereof when the latch is in lockedposition.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a latch in open orunlocked position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the base plate.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the locking plate underlying thehandle element.

8 Claims. (01. 292-226) The door latch A is formed of a single strip offiat sheet metal or the like, preferably bentinto substantially U-shape.The free ends of the body form handle elements, one end In lying on oneside of the door B and the other'handle end ll lying on the oppositesideof the door B. The handle element illustrated in general by the; numeral52 is provided with an elongated slot 13 formed in the bend between thehandle end [0 and the substantially flat intermediate portion M of thehandle element. -A slight off-set i5 is preferably formed in the handleelement 12 substantially centrally between the handle ends Ill and l lfor a purpose which will be later described in detail. A centralaperture [8 extends through the intermediate'portion l4 and a pair ofopposed notches i6 and l! are formed in-the intermediate portion I ti onthe side of the intermediate portion is most closely adjacent the handleend I I.

As best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings the base plate orbracket IQ of my latch comprises a fiat panel 20 having end flanges 2 land 22 thereupon. The end flanges are of greater width at one end thanat the other as the panel I9 is usually inclined relative to the edge ofthe door. The end 23 of the flange 2! is longerthan the edge 2 thereofand the free edge 25" of the flange 2| is designed to lie substantiallyflush with the edge of the door B.

The edge 26 of the flange 22 is longer than the opposite edge 27 thereofand the free edge 29 of the flange 22 is designed to lie flush with theedge of the door. As a result the panel 20 of the base bracket issupported on anangle relative to the edge of the door.

The panel 20 is provided with spaced apertures 30 through whichattaching means may extend to attach the base plate to the door. InFigures 2 and 3 of the drawings I disclose wood screws 31 extendingthrough the apertures 30 and into the door to hold the base plate inproper position thereupon.

A pair of spaced apertures 32 are provided in the base plate 20. throughthese apertures 32, the base of these springs being of sufficientlylarge diameter to be engaged beneath the base plate panel 28. Thus whenthe base plate I9 is attached to the door the springs 33 are anchoredbetween the base plate panel 28 and the door and extend outwardly towardthe edge of the door from the panel 25).

A pair of hook shaped flanges34 and 35 extend outwardly from an edge ofthe panel 26 near the top and bottom flanges 21 and 22. The

Conical springs 33 extend flanges 34 and 35 are provided with hook ends36 and 31 respectively, which extend substantially parallel to the panel20. These hook flanges 34 and 35 are for the purpose of hingedlyconnecting the base plate and the handle element l2.

A latch plate 39, preferably of relatively resilient material includes afiat panel 40 approximately equal in width with the intermediate portionM of the handle element I2 having a pair of opposed notches 4| and 42therein substantially identical with the notches l6 and I! of the handleelement l2. An aperture 43 extends through the plate 40, the position ofthe aperture 43 substantially corresponding with the position of theaperture |8 in the handle element l2.

A tongue 44 integral with the panel 40 is connected thereto along thebend line 45. The tongue 44 is on a plane at an acute angle to the planeof the panel 40, the bend line 45 defining the connection between thetongue .and the panel. A substantially triangular aperture 46 isprovided in the panel 43 having its base 41 extending substantiallyalong the bend line 45. A portion of the material cut to form theaperture 46 may be bent rearwardly to form a reinforced flange 49 alongthe base 41 of the triangle.

The door is provided with a frame C extending to form a surface 50 inparallel spaced relation to the edge of the door. A stop or shoulder 5|usually forms a part of the frame 0. This stop forms a shoulder againstwhich the door may abut to limit its closing motion. The inclined groove52 is cut in the stop 5|, this groove being of proper length and depthto accommodate the handle element I! in the closed position of the doorillustrated in Figure 2. A headless screw or stud 53 is screwed into theframe C in position to extend through the elongated slot l3 and throughthe aperture 4'5 in closed position of the door.

In assembling the door the base plate I9 is first fitted into the notchin the edge of the door formed to accommodate the same. A base plate 20is secured in place by the wood screw 3| or by any other suitable means.When secured in place the conical springs 33 are engaged between thelatch plate and the door, the small diameter end of the springs beingdirected outwardly from the base plate. 7

The latch plate 39 is then placed in position by hooking the hook shapedflanges 34 and 35 through the opposed slots or notches 4| and 42. Thepanel 43 is positioned to overlie the springs 33.

The handle element I2 is then mounted in position. The hook shapedflanges 3'4 and 35are extended through the notches l6 and I! outwardlyof the latch plate 39. An attaching screw 54 is then inserted throughthe aperture I8 in the handle element, through the aperture 43 in thelatch plate 39, and through the aperture 55 in the base plate IS). Thehead of the screw 54 limits the outward swinging of the handle or limitsthe hinging movement of the handle in one direction. The springs 33 holdthe latch plate and the handle element in this extreme position.

The stud 53 is then inserted in place in the frame and the latch is inreadiness for operation. As the door B swings into closed position theoutwardly projecting end of the stud 53 passes through the elongatedslot I3 and strikes the tongue 44 of the latch plate 39. This actionpivots the latch plate 39 about its hinged attachment to the hook shapedflanges 34 and 35 of the base plate in a manner to compress the springs33. The compression of the springs 33 continually increases until thehead of the stud 53 drops into the aperture 45 of the latch plate. TheSprings 33 thereupon force the latch plate outwardly in such a way thatthe projecting end of the stud 53 is engaged in the aperture 46.

When it is desired to open the door the handle element |2 may be swungabout itspivotal attachment with the hook shaped flanges 34 and 35 ofthe base plate either by pushing the handle end |0 toward the door orpulling the handle end I I away from the door. This hinging movement ofthe handle element acts to swing the handle element toward the baseplate l9, thus urging the latch plate 39 toward the base panel 20 andcompressing the springs 33. The same pushing or pulling action used topivot the latch also acts to swing the door away from its frame, thusdisengaging the'latch.

It will be noted that the handle element'lZ, the base plate l9, and thelatch plate 39 may all be formed by a simple stamping operation. Theconical springs 33 and the attaching screws as well as the locking stud53 are readily. available or can be easily manufactured at low cost. Asa result the latch may be made at extremely low cost particularly inview of the fact that the latch does not have to be assembled beforeshipment.

In view of the extreme simplicity of the latch and in view-of the factthat the latch must be disassembled before it may be attached'to thedoor, it is most conveniently supplied in disassembled form with properdirections for installation.

No special tools are required for installation, it being only necessaryto cut a'notchin 'the'door edge and frame and to secure the attachingscrews in place.

It should be pointed out that while the handleelement l2 may beassembled upon the projecting fingers 34 and 35 after the base plate l9hasbeen attached to the door edge, the handle must be applied while inan extreme pivotal'position with the handle end closely adjacent thesurface of the door B. After the handle has been attached the limiting.screw 54 is inserted in place, preventing the handle from pivoting intothe extreme position mentioned. As a result the handle may not becomeaccidentally disengaged and may only be removed after the limiting screw54 has been removed. It should further be noted that the notches l6 andH in the handle and the notches 4| and 42 in the latch plate 39 formapertures through the handle and latch plate into which the projectingfingers on the base plate engage. It is convenient to form theseapertures in the form of notches as illustrated, but obviously theseapertures could be set in somewhat from the edge of thehandleand latchplate if desired.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and opto the door near'anedge thereof, a pair of hook--shaped fingers on said base plate engageable into said notches uponextreme pivotal movement of said handle, said fingers extending throughsaid notches and overlying adjacent portions of said handle, meansengaging said handle to normally limit the pivotal movement and toprevent said handle from being pivoted into said extreme pivotalposition, and means resiliently urging said handle toward limitedposition.

2. A door latch comprising a substantially U- shaped handle designed tooverlie the edge and adjacent side surfaces of a door, means engageablewith said handle to pivotally connect said handle in door edge overlyingposition, a latch plate pivotally connected to said handle andunderlying the same, said handle having a slot therein exposing aportion of said latch plate, said latch plate having an aperture thereinin partial registry with said slot in said handle, said slot andaperture being designed to engage a keeper, and spring means interposedbetween said latch plate and the door.

3. A door latch comprising a substantially U- shaped handle designed tooverlie the edge and adjacent side surfaces of a door, a base platesecured to the door, means pivotally connecting said base plate to thedoor, a latch plate pivotally connected relative to said handle and saidbase plate and underlying a portion of the handle, the handle having aslot therethrough exposing a portion of the latch plate, a shoulder inthe latch plate between said handle and said base plate exposed throughsaid slot, and spring means interposed between said latch plate and saidbase plate.

4. A door latch comprising a substantially U- shaped handle of stripmaterial designed to overlie the edge and adjacent side surfaces of adoor, said handle having spaced apertures therein, a base plate designedfor attachment to the door, a pair of spaced projections on said baseplate engageable into said apertures to pivotally attach said handle tosaid base plate, a latch plate between said base plate and said handleand pivotally mounted relative thereto, said handle having a slottherethrough exposing a portion of said latch plate, a shoulder in theexposed portion of said latch plate, spring means between said baseplate and said latch plate, and means for limiting pivotal movement ofsaid handle, said means holding said handle, said plate and latch plateassembled.

5. A door latch comprising a substantially U- shaped handle designed tooverlie the edge of a door, a plate means designed for attachment to thedoor, a pair of spaced projecting fingers on said plate means, saidhandle having apertures therein for accommodating said projectingfingers to pivotally attach the handle to said plate means, a latchplate underlying a portion of said handle, said latch plate havingspaced apertures therein through which said projecting fingers engage topivotally attach the latch plate relative to said handle and to saidplate means, said handle, having a slot therein exposing a portion ofsaid latch plate, and shoulder means in the portion of said latch plateexposed through said slot.

6. A door attachment including a base plate, means for securing saidbase plate to a door adjacent the edge thereof, a substantially U-shaped handle designed to overlie said base plate, said door edge, andthe adjacent side surfaces of the door, a pair of projections on saidplate, projecting outwardly from the door edge, portions of said handlewhich lie on a substantially common plane having a pair of spacedapertures therein for receiving said projections to pivotally connectsaid handle to the door.

7. A door latch designed for reception into a notch in an edge of adoor, the latch including a base plate secured in said notch, asubstantially U-shaped handle overlying said edge and said base plate, apair of ears on said base plate and extending at substantially rightangles thereto, said handle having a pair of apertures therein, saidears engaging into said apertures to hingedly connect said handle tosaid base plate, spring means urging said handle away from said baseplate, means for limiting pivotal movement of said handle and latchmeans hingeable with the handle upon hinging movement thereof towardsaid base plate.

8. A door latch comprising a U-shaped handle designed to overlie theedge of a door, said handle having a substantially flat portion and apair of spaced aperture means extending through said fiat portion, saidflat portion causing said spaced aperture means to lie on asubstantially common plane, plate means on said door having projectionmeans thereupon extending through said aperture means to hingedlyconnect the handle to the door, spring means urging said handle in onerotative direction, means for limiting the pivotal movement of saidhandle, and latch means pivotal with said handle upon pivotal movementthereof.

BERT A. QUINN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 192,919 Hoyt July 10, 1877531,353 Wilson Dec. 25, 1894 644,946 Richardson Mar. 6, 1900 815,668Witte Mar. 20, 1906 921,852 Lewis May 18, 1909 947,404 Andrazyk Jan. 25,1910 1,478,502 Woolhether Dec. 25, 1923 1,546,986 McIntosh July 21, 19252,221,532 Westerheim Nov. 12, 1940 2,230,476 Anderson Feb. 4, 19412,352,465 Anderson June 27, 1944

